Ruud van Nistelrooy made an immediate mark in Premier League history during his debut as Leicester City manager. In his first match at the helm, a 3-1 victory over West Ham at the King Power Stadium, he achieved a remarkable feat that Jamie Vardy is unlikely to surpass. The win, which saw goals from Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss, and Patson Daka, also marked Van Nistelrooy’s third victory over Leicester this season, having beaten them twice already while serving as interim manager at Manchester United.
Van Nistelrooy’s achievement of managing a team he had previously defeated twice in the same season is a rare milestone. This adds to his legacy of unusual records, including his former Premier League record for consecutive games scored, which Vardy surpassed in 2016 when he extended his streak to 11 games.
A former striker for Manchester United between 2001 and 2006, Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff. When Ten Hag was dismissed in October following a defeat to West Ham, Van Nistelrooy briefly stepped into the interim role, overseeing four matches. Two of those encounters were against Leicester—first in the Carabao Cup and later in the Premier League—where he enjoyed dominant victories over Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest side.
After Cooper’s departure, Van Nistelrooy was appointed Leicester’s permanent manager. Although he had impressed during his brief stint at United, he expressed surprise at Leicester’s interest, particularly given his limited managerial experience. Reflecting on the unexpected attention he received, he mentioned how his successful tenure at PSV Eindhoven—where he won two trophies—had not garnered similar reaction, despite his achievements. Van Nistelrooy signed a contract with Leicester until 2027, which was officially confirmed on November 29.
Leicester entered the match against West Ham sitting 16th in the Premier League, just a point above the relegation zone, following a three-game losing streak. But with their convincing 3-1 win, they moved up to 15th in the standings. Vardy gave Leicester the lead early on, although his goal was initially ruled offside before being awarded following a VAR review. El Khannouss doubled the advantage in the second half with a well-taken finish, and Daka sealed the victory with a powerful strike. West Ham’s Niclas Fullkrug scored a late header to pull one back for the visitors.
